Western Pension Solutions (WPS), the specialist pensions consultancy that provides strategic and practical advice to family businesses, has announced the recent appointment of Yorkshire-based pensions adviser Jon Sharp as a Director. Sharp brings further expansion of WPS’ expertise and reach in the sector and follows the appointment of David Dickson as Non Executive Chairman earlier in the year.
Ben Fowler, Managing Director of WPS, said: “There are few true specialists in the UK family business sector, which is why we are so pleased to welcome Jon and David on board. The industry has many unique nuances, meaning it is crucial to understand the particular needs of these companies – a skill that both have in abundance. David in particular is very well known and respected in family business circles, given his leading roles on a variety of Advisory Boards within the family business sector. Combined with Jon’s excellent reputation developed at his previous role at KPMG in Leeds, they will be valuable additions to our work.
“At an important time for family businesses trying to manage their legacy final salary schemes, we feel our independence and values, by the fact that we have come from a family business ourselves, mean we are perfectly placed to provide solutions that really work. Jon and David’s appointments certainly consolidate these credentials. Western Pension Solutions help businesses across the UK, but our continued regional growth means we are also able to offer local experts to businesses in the north of England with their own specific needs.”
Jon Sharp added: “I have been aware of WPS’ unique specialisms for a number of years and I am very pleased to have joined the team. I very much look forward to helping our clients find the strategy for their pension scheme that meets the needs of the company, its shareholders and members alike.”
David Dickson commented: “Across my roles in the family business world there is a consistent message when it comes to legacy final salary schemes, that families feel they need specialist support to ensure they are meeting the ever-changing governance requirements and managing the funding risks that come with the scheme. I was therefore very keen to be part of WPS, who are unique in their expertise for this very scenario. Our immediate focus beyond supporting our existing clients is to create greater awareness amongst family businesses of the real issues and the independent help available to them.”
Jon joins WPS with over 15 years’ experience as a pensions adviser, regularly helping family businesses on all aspects of pensions strategy. He joins WPS from KPMG where he was a Pensions Director, focused on advising privately-owned organisations. Prior to this Jon worked for PwC in senior consultancy roles. Jon is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries and a member of the Institute of Family Business working party on pensions.
David Dickson joined WPS earlier this year. Previously he spent 25 years with Garbutt & Elliott, where he was a Senior Partner, after working for KPMG. He specialises in strategy, corporate governance, succession planning and exits in the Family Business sector. David is on the Board and Chairs a number of Regional and National Bodies. He also holds a Fellowship in Family Business Advice, is a member of the Expert Witness Institute and a Fellow of the ICAEW.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Ben Fowler +44 (0)20 77262718
About Western Pension Solutions
Western Pension Solutions (WPS) is a specialist pension consultancy, which is owned by the Vestey Group. It provides strategic and practical advice to family businesses on how to manage and ultimately fully de-risk their legacy defined benefit pension arrangements. It was founded in 2015, following the successful transfer of £500m of pension liabilities from the Vestey balance sheet in a series of bulk annuity transactions with Rothesay Life.
